he apologized for war crimes from 60 years ago, but that is not what merrill newman's family sees. >> they collected information and attacked communication system and killed three innocent operators. >> reporter: in this video, merrill newman of palo alto reads a statement that is an apology for alleged crimes against the war. >> there is misleading information and propaganda. >> reporter: the apology was not shown in the video but he writes she guilty of a long list of crimes against the north korea government. north korean agents took the man from an airplane october 26 as he prepared to fly home. >> what can anybody at 85 do? i'm 96. what could i do if i got put in jail like that? >> there is no history of 85- year-old grandfather getting pulled off a plane and not being permitted to come home. it is just completely unprecedented. >> mom is ready to fly to beijing and paddle a boat across. >> i said i would sit in the street. i would do whatever i could do. >> reporter: the so-called apology video may indicate that the north korean government is getting ready to let him go. >> the